Abraham Lincoln's famous spot resolutions came at the pinnacle of a congressional debate as to the constitutionality of and justification for the Mexican War. Much of the disagreement in Congress arose due to the reasons for war and the way in which they were worded in legislation.
On May 11, 1846, President James K. Polk made a speech to Congress alleging that US territory had been invaded and that American blood had been shed on American soil. In response to this announcement, Congress began working on a bill to appropriate troops/supplies for the cause. President Polk had been quick to announce that war existed in the region and had been provoked. This caused much disagreement within Congress as at the time, war did not seem eminent. As congressional debates continued, the Whig party and its members became pitted against their political rivals, the Democrats. The Whig party was concerned with the wording included in the preamble of the legislation that would increase the number of troops and supplies. The Whigs were not in favor of the war, and saw it as unnecessary and unjust, however they were prepared to vote in favor of the bill. The legislation maintained that war existed at the fault of Mexico. Although Whigs were vehemently apposed to the phrasing of the preamble, the bill became law on May 13. In two other addresses, made on December 8, 1846 and December 7, 1847 respectively, President Polk farther inflamed partisan passions when he continued to pin Mexico as the aggressor in the conflict, denying that it was the United States that had provoked the war. President Polk continued to maintain that American blood had been shed on American soil. These assertions outraged the Whig Party who began publicly voicing their frustrations against the President and what they saw to be "his" war.
Spot Resolutions:
Out of the political turmoil would arise a relatively unknown member of the House of Representatives, a Whig representative from Illinois by the name of Abraham Lincoln. Propelling Lincoln from obscurity to the national spotlight was his famous spot resolutions, in which he demanded that Polk give an exact location as to where the blood of American citizens had been spilled on American soil. He outlined 8 resolutions that sought specific information. For example, the first asked if whether the spot on which American blood was shed was or was not within the territory of Spain (in the terms of the treaty of 1819) until the Mexican Revolution. The remaining seven were equally as specific and all were effective and well thought out as not one had an answer that would allow President Polk to justify his previous statements. Although the House never acted upon Lincoln's resolutions, they convinced Congress, and the nation, that Polk lacked the evidence that he claimed justified the war. On January 3rd, 1848, the House passed an amendment censuring President Polk who in his December 7, 1847 address had dubbed the military conflict with Mexico a "just war".
Impact:
While national sentiment had initially been in favor of the war with Mexico, over time this feeling soured and public support slowly fell away. This was due in part to the spot resolutions, which made many people question the real intent of America and for what cause their fellow citizens were being shipped off to fight. Lincoln's spot resolutions did more than sway public opinion and add credibility to his party, they also propelled him into the national spotlight. Relatively unknown before this time, Lincoln became a household name seemingly overnight. His name would remain in the back of people's mind through his attempt to win a senate seat and his eventual candidacy for president. The feedback Lincoln received in response to his spot resolutions was not all positive however. Many political rivals played up and distorted Lincoln's true intent in making his spot resolutions. Some tried to make Lincoln out as Anti American and accused him of treason. In his 1858 bid for the United States Senate, Stephen A. Douglas, who ran against and defeated Lincoln, tried to call Lincoln's character into question and would refer to him as "Spotty Lincoln". Nevertheless, Lincoln in time would become arguably the most important and most influential president of all time and his spot resolutions helped him attain notoriety on a national scale.
Political Deadlock:
Abraham Lincoln's famous spot resolutions came at the pinnacle of a congressional debate as to the constitutionality of and justification for the Mexican War. Much of the disagreement in Congress arose due to the reasons for war and the way in which they were worded in legislation.On May 11, 1846, President James K. Polk made a speech to Congress alleging that US territory had been invaded and that American blood had been shed on American soil. In response to this announcement, Congress began working on a bill to appropriate troops/supplies for the cause. President Polk had been quick to announce that war existed in the region and had been provoked. This caused much disagreement within Congress as at the time, war did not seem eminent. As congressional debates continued, the Whig party and its members became pitted against their political rivals, the Democrats. The Whig party was concerned with the wording included in the preamble of the legislation that would increase the number of troops and supplies. The Whigs were not in favor of the war, and saw it as unnecessary and unjust, however they were prepared to vote in favor of the bill. The legislation maintained that war existed at the fault of Mexico. Although Whigs were vehemently apposed to the phrasing of the preamble, the bill became law on May 13. In two other addresses, made on December 8, 1846 and December 7, 1847 respectively, President Polk farther inflamed partisan passions when he continued to pin Mexico as the aggressor in the conflict, denying that it was the United States that had provoked the war. President Polk continued to maintain that American blood had been shed on American soil. These assertions outraged the Whig Party who began publicly voicing their frustrations against the President and what they saw to be "his" war.
Spot Resolutions:
Impact:
While national sentiment had initially been in favor of the war with Mexico, over time this feeling soured and public support slowly fell away. This was due in part to the spot resolutions, which made many people question the real intent of America and for what cause their fellow citizens were being shipped off to fight. Lincoln's spot resolutions did more than sway public opinion and add credibility to his party, they also propelled him into the national spotlight. Relatively unknown before this time, Lincoln became a household name seemingly overnight. His name would remain in the back of people's mind through his attempt to win a senate seat and his eventual candidacy for president. The feedback Lincoln received in response to his spot resolutions was not all positive however. Many political rivals played up and distorted Lincoln's true intent in making his spot resolutions. Some tried to make Lincoln out as Anti American and accused him of treason. In his 1858 bid for the United States Senate, Stephen A. Douglas, who ran against and defeated Lincoln, tried to call Lincoln's character into question and would refer to him as "Spotty Lincoln". Nevertheless, Lincoln in time would become arguably the most important and most influential president of all time and his spot resolutions helped him attain notoriety on a national scale.